R.UMANATHA RAO Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is an unusual criminal revision case filed against an unusual order made by the learned Additional Sessions Judge of Tiruchirapalli division in Crl.M.P. No. 82 of. 1952 in Sessions Case No. 53 of 1951.

(2.) BEFORE entering into the merits of this case, I may point out that in a circular issued. by the High Court of Madras dated 10th. January 1951 interlocutory petitions of this nature are thoroughly deprecated and the Honourable -Judges point out as follows: 'Instances have come up to the High Court which disclose that a system of procedure not contemplated by the Code is developing in the subordinate criminal courts. la warrant cases (and a fortiori in Sessions eases also) accused persons before they are charged and put upon their defence anticipate their defence by petitions raising preliminary points upon which the court passes judgment. These are then brought up on revision to the High Court pending which, the trialof the case is adjourned. The High Court desires to impress upon.' the lower courts that, this procedure is unwarranted and makes for delay and extra work. An accused person has no right to raise a preliminary point before he is charged. He must wait to defend himself till he is charged and it he is convicted, his first remedy is in most cases by way of appeal.'

(3.) THE Additional Sessions Judge is trying; what is popularly known as the Tiruchirapalli Conspiracy case and the prosecution case has been closed and the Judge has started recording the statements of the accused under Section 342, Criminal P.C. It is at this stage the accused invited the Judge to pass orders on three specific points before the statements were recorded. I directed the Additional Sessions Judge to get along with the recording of the statements under Section 342, Criminal P.C. and promised to pass orders on Monday on this case.